Support device for supporting frames and other objects from a structure

• US 6,682,033 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Cohen, Robin Harter
• Original Assignee: Mark Cohen, Robin Harter
• Inventors: Cohen, Mark, Harter, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHULTERBRANDT, KOFI A
• Application Number:
  US10/211,056
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.22, 248/216.1, 248/224.61, 248/217.3, 248/223.41
• US Class Current: 248/220.22
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0846 Display panels or rails with elongated channels; Sliders, brackets, shelves, or the like, slidably attached therein
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/1606 comprising a wall member cooperating with a corresponding picture member
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/17 using adhesives, suction or magnetism A47G1/168 takes precedence; suction cups for attaching purposes, equivalent means using adhesives F16B47/00

Abstract

A support device for supporting a frame or other object from a wall or other structure. The support device includes a support member placed in a recess of an object and releasably frictionally retained in place. At least one canted pin member projects from the support member for entering the structure.

Claims

1. A support device for supporting an object from a structure, said support device comprising a support member having a front support member surface and a rear support member surface, said rear support member surface for positioning in face-to-face relationship with the structure, and at least one pin member connected to said support member for piercing and entering the structure projecting rearwardly from said rear support member surface for maintaining the rear support member surface in face-to-face relationship with the structure and for maintaining the support member at a desired location on the structure, said at least one pin member being inclined downwardly and defining an acute angle with the rear support member surface, said support member additionally having opposed top and bottom object engagement surfaces extending between said front support member surface and said rear support member surface, one of said top and bottom object engagement surfaces being an arcuate surface diverging away from the other of said top and bottom engagement surfaces in a direction extending from said front support member surface toward said rear support member surface and the other of said top and bottom object engagement surfaces defining an object retention indent extending the length of said support member and adjoining said rear support member surface, said support member for entering a recess defined by two spaced portions of the object and for releasable retention in said recess due to frictional engagement between said support member and said two spaced portions, said support member being dimensioned such that said top and bottom object engagement surfaces will be in tight frictional engagement with said two spaced portions of the object after entering the recess thereof with one of the spaced portions of the object in said object retention indent and the other of the spaced portions of the object engaging said arcuate surface.

2. The support device according to claim 1 wherein said object is a picture frame and wherein said recess is located in the back of said frame and defined by two spaced frame portions, said object engagement surfaces comprising frame engagement surfaces, said object retention indent for receiving one of said frame portions and said arcuate surface for tight frictional engagement with the other of said frame portions.

3. The support device according to claim 1 additionally comprising a manually graspable member projecting from said support member for manipulating said support member.

4. The support device according to claim 3 wherein said support member defines an opening, said manually graspable member comprising a tool having a tool end located in said support member.

5. The support device according to claim 3 wherein said manually graspable member comprises a tab element integral with said support member.

6. The support device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of pin members are connected to said support member, said pin members being spaced from one another.

7. In combination:

a support device for supporting an object from a structure, said support device comprising a support member having a front support member surface and a rear support member surface, said rear support member surface for positioning in face-to-face relationship with the structure, and at least one pin member connected to said support member for piercing and entering the structure projecting rearwardly from said rear support member surface for maintaining the rear support member surface in face-to-face relationship with the structure and for maintaining the support member at a desired location on the structure, said at least one pin member being inclined downwardly and defining an acute angle with the rear support member surface, said support member additionally having opposed top and bottom object engagement surfaces extending between said front support member surface and said rear support member surface, one of said top and bottom object engagement surfaces being an arcuate surface diverging away from the other of said top and bottom engagement surfaces in a direction extending from said front support member surface toward said rear support member surface and the other of said top and bottom object engagement surfaces defining an object retention indent extending the length of said support member and adjoining said rear support member surface; and

an object having two spaced portions defining a recess, said support member being disposed in said recess and in frictional engagement with said two spaced portions to releasably retain said support member in said recess with said at least one pin member projecting therefrom, said support member being dimensioned such that said top and bottom object engagement surfaces are in tight frictional engagement with said two spaced portions of the object and one of the spaced portions of the object being in said object retention indent and the other of the spaced portions of the object engaging said arcuate surface.

8. A support device for supporting an object from a structure, said support device comprising a support member having a front support member surface and a rear support member surface, said rear support member surface for positioning in face-to-face relationship with the structure, and at least one pin member connected to said support member for piercing and entering the structure projecting rearwardly from said rear support member surface for maintaining the rear support member surface in face-to-face relationship with the structure and for maintaining the support member at a desired location on the structure, said at least one pin member being inclined downwardly and defining an acute angle with the rear support member surface, said support member additionally having a pair of opposed object engagement surfaces extending between said front support member surface and said rear support member surface, one of said object engagement surfaces being an arcuate surface and the other of said object engagement surfaces defining an indent extending the length of said support member, said support device additionally comprising a manually graspable member projecting from said support member for manipulating said support member, said manually graspable member comprising a tab element integral with said support member, said tab element comprising two tab element segments connected together in face-to-face relationship, the at least one pin member attached to and projecting outwardly from one of said tab element segments.

9. A support device for supporting an object from a structure, said support device comprising a support member having a front support member surface and a rear support member surface, said rear support member surface for positioning in face-to-face relationship with the structure, and at least one pin member connected to said support member for piercing and entering the structure for maintaining the rear support member surface in face-to-face relationship with the structure and for maintaining the support member at a desired location on the structure, said at least one pin member being inclined downwardly and defining an acute angle with the rear support member surface, said support member additionally having a pair of opposed object engagement surfaces being an arcuate surface and the other of said object engagement surfaces defining an indent extending the length of said support member said support device additionally comprising a manually graspable member projecting from said support member for manipulating said support member, said manually graspable member comprising a tab element integral with said support member, and adhesive on a side of said tab element spaced from said support member.